 PLAYERS
Pakistan lost two World Cup games. The second, to Ireland, put them out of the Cup, but the first, against the West Indies, was a strange affair. Pakistan's Inzamam ul-Haq and Mohammad Yousuf were building a stand, but runs were coming slowly. When both were out, Pakistan were too far behind the run rate to have a chance of beating the Windies total.
Theory: Woolmer was aware the defeat may not have been an accident and, after the unexpected defeat by Ireland put his side out, threatened to expose the player or players who had fixed the West Indies game. This would be a motive for murder.
FIXERS
Tipped off that Woolmer might be about to become a loose cannon, Indian bookies got scared. These men run the lucrative spot-fixing rings in which punters bet on, say, the number of wides, an individual's score or the wickets a bowler takes.
Theory: Having coached South Africa and Pakistan, Woolmer was already well-informed |
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about the activities of betting rings in the sub-continent, and the fixers decided he must be silenced. Since their business is illegal, they'd know the whereabouts of enforcers. They had the means and the motive.
FANS
Followers of Pakistani cricket can be volatile. Calls for the death of players and coaches after humbling defeats are common enough. Wasim Akram's father was kidnapped after a defeat in the World Cup in 1996.
Theory: Fans mixed easily with players staying at Kingston's Pegasus Hotel. Security was lax and one or more fans, outraged at the defeat by Ireland, entered Woolmer's room and killed him. Jamaican police are reportedly seeking three Pakistani fans who disappeared from the hotel.
PRIVATE LIFE
Woolmer was found naked in his bathroom.
Theory: Why would he be naked if he was confronting a player, or a fan, or a local criminal? The murder could be nothing to do with cricket, but a sex crime.
FIRST POSTED MARCH 27, 2007
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